Percolating stock tank heater



' Oct. 12, 1954 H. STUVA 2,691,363

PERCOLATING STOCK TANK HEATER Filed Nov. 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Harry Sfzz v a;

ATTEI RN EYS Oct. 12, 1954 H. STUVA 2,691,363

PERCOLATING STOCK TANK HEATER F'iled Nov. 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V ENTOR.

Harry 5220/4,

A'YTCI RN EYS Oct. 12, 1954 H. STUVA PERQOLATING STOCK TANK HEATER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 29, 1951 IN VENTOR. fzzva,

Harry ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 12, 1954 PERCOLATING STOCK TANK HEATER Harry Stuva, Corning, Iowa Application November 29, 1951, Serial No. 258,937

This invention relates to devices for heating water in stock watering troughs and tanks, and

in particular a percolating heater having a heat exchanging chamber therein through which water may be recirculated and percolated continuously with a comparatively small amount of heat.

The purpose of this invention is to provide water heating means in a stock tank whereby water is recirculated or percolated continuously without moving parts and with heat providing the circulating means.

Various attempts have been made to prevent water freezing in stock watering troughs and tanks and where water is circulated or recirculated continuously with motors or other prime movers, the parts, being subjected to extreme temperatures where oil and grease become stiff Wear rapidly and it is difiicult to insure continuous operation thereo With this thought in mind this invention contemplates recirculating means in the form of a percolator for stock watering troughs whereby the water is recirculated by heat and wherein with the water recirculating continuously, a comparatively small amount of heat is required.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for constructing apercolating unit for stock watering tanks whereby water is recirculated continuously by the application of heat to a unit through which the water passes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heat actuated water circulating device for stock watering'troughs and tanks that may be incorporated in tanks now in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a percolating unit for stock watering tanks that may be used to, provide water for cattle and other stock and also water for hogs, poultry and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a percolating unit for stock watering tanks which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a compartment having open ends extended through a stock watering tank with a percolating unit having a burner positioned below an element thereof mounted in the compartment, with the percolating unit adapted to withdraw water from the tank, raise the temperature of the water and discharge the water back into the tank and with the unit also including means for discharging water into Claims. (Cl. 119-73) lower stock watering tanks or troughssuch as troughs for watering hogs and the like.

. ing a cover orbaflle Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a stock watering tank showing a percolating unit in a cylindrical tube extended through the tank.

Figure 2 is a cross section through the tank shown in Figure 1, showing a longitudinal section through the tube extended through the tank and showing upper and lower watering tanks or compartments. I

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing part of the tank shown in Figure 1 and illustratextended across the tubular compartment and spaced inwardly from each end of the tube.

Figure 4 is a cross section similar to that shown in Figure 2 illustrating a modification wherein percolating units are provided for each section of the tank or trough.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing individual connections oi the percolating units to the main heating element.

Figure 6 is a detail showing a side elevational view of the stock watering tank illustrated in Figure 4 with parts broken away showing one of the lower troughs in section.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section through one of the percolating units, showing, in particular, the units illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional plan taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7 showing the body of the percolating unit.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the percolating unit of this invention includes a water distribution chamber [0 having a tubular heater connection ll extended upwardly into the lower part thereof, a discharge connection I2 with a ball valve 13 therein, a sleeve l4 having a valve l5 therein providing an inlet connection, a burner or heater [6, and a compartment IT in which the percolating elements are mounted and which extend through a stock watering tank Ill.

The casing of the chamber In is provided with a threaded opening l9 through which the tube I l extends and the lower end of the tube l I is provided with a plug 20 on which a cap 2| is threaded providing a heating chamber.

In the design illustrated in Figure 1 the cap 20 is positioned above the burner I6, the burner being suspended by a bracket 22 from the tube H with a fitting 23 mounted on the tube II and with the burner l6 positioned in a ring 24 at the lower end of the bracket. The burner I6 is provided with a supply connection 25 having a valve 26 therein.

Also in the design illustrated in Figure l the chamber In is supplied with water from the tank l8 through a unit 21 having a strainer 28 in the outer end and a coupling 29 on the inner end by which the unit is connected to the inlet connection Id of the chamber It with a tube 28 and afitting 29. f

The sleeve in is provided with a web 30 having an opening providing a valve seat therein and the ball valve I is urged, by gravity upon the seat around the opening, which is indicated by the numeral 3|. A bushing 32 having a square opening 33 in the upper end is threaded into the upper end of the sleeve M toretain the ball in the sleeve.

The discharge tube or connection I2 is threaded into a boss 34 of a plug 35 threaded into the upper end of the chamber or casing ill and the plug is provided with a cup shaped liner 35 having a square opening 3'! therein which permits the escape of water through .the corners with the ball l3 held upwardly above the seat 38 which is provided in a bushing 39 threaded in the liner 3% and provided with a passage to. The parts are positioned whereby the ball I3 is free to be moved upwardly from the seat 38 by pressure of water in the chamber 10.

With the parts arranged in this manner heat applied to water in the cap 2! causes the heated water totravel upwardly through the center of the tube I! with the cooler water entering the chamber it from the inlet connection traveling downwardly around the inner surface of the tube II and the pressure of the expanding water holds the ball 15 against the seat in the opening BI and raises the ball [3 above the seat 38 in the bushing 39.

By this means water heatedin the cap 2| passes upwardly into the chamber Ill and through the connection 12 into the tank iii.

The cold water supplied through the inlet, connection may be taken from the tank 13 to the unit 21 or the connection may be connected to a suitable source of water supply.

In the design illustrated in Figure 1 tank i8 is provided with a water supply connection M.

The tubular compartment i'l is also provided with ends 52 and 43 which provide a hog watering trough M in the lower part and the trough 44 is supplied with water from the tank i8 through a unit :35, similar to the unit 27 except that it is provided with a float actuated valve 6% with a float 4'! connected to the valve with an arm $8. The outer end of the unit as s provided with a strainer 69, similar to the strainer 28 of the unit 2'5.

The tube H is also provided with closures or bailles 50 and 53 which are attached to flanges 52 extended inwardly from the inner surface of the tube and the bailies are retained in spaced relation with a rod 53 having a thumb nut 5 2 on one end. 7

The baiiles 5S and ti may also be provided with sight openings 55 having cover plates 58 andair vents 51 may be provided through the lower parts.

In the design illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 the stock watering tank Ellis provided with a transversely disposed compartment 5! and a heating element 52 mounted on a stand 83 in the compartment 6! is positioned above a burner 55 that is provided with a fuel connection having a valve 65 therein.

The element 62 is connected to chambers 61, 68 and 69, similar to the chamber H} with tubular connections 10, H and 12, respectively, the connections ill, II and 12 being similar to the tubular connection ll whereby water heated in the element 62 passes upwardly through the tubes into the percolating chambers.

The tube 10 is connected to the element 62 with a plug 13 and the tubes H and 12 are connected to the element by similar plugs H and 15,

respectively.

Each of the chambers 61, G8 and 69 is provided with a plug 16, similar to the plug 35 of the-chamber m and the plugs are provided with ball valves similar to the valve IS. The plug 16 of the chamber 61 is connected to the tank 60 with a discharge connection 11, the plug of the chamber 68 is connected to a hog watering tank It with a discharge connection 19 and the plug is of the chamber 69 is connected to a similar ho watering tank 853 with a connection 81.

Each of the chambers 61, 6B and B9 is provided with a sleeve 82, similar to the sleeve l4, providing an inlet connection and the inlet connections of the chambers are connected to the tanks 6B, is and Bil, respectively with connections 83, as and 85.

Inwardly sloping baffles 86 and 81 are positioned above and spaced from the ends of thehog watering troughs 18 and an and the discharge connections is and 8| are fixedly mounted in'the baffies 8E; and El, respectively, as shown.

With the parts arranged in this manner the heating element 52- functions similar to the element 2i shown in Figure '7 whereby water heated therein passes upwardly through the connections l8, H and T2 causing hot water in the chambers 6'5, 68 and 69 to pass through the discharge connections and .into the water tank.

By this means water in the tanks is recirculated continuouslyand the burners may be set so that the water remains at a constant temperature.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A stock watering device comprising a tank, a compartment extended through the lower part of the tank, a water distribution chamber positioned in said compartment and having a.discharge connection extending from the upper part thereof to the interior of the tank and an :inlet connection extending from the lower part thereof into the tank, a vertically disposed depending tube extended from said water distribution chamher and having a heating chamber in the lower end thereof, and a heating element in the compartment and positioned below said heating chamber for applying heat to the heating chamber on the lower end of the vertically disposed tube whereby water heated in the said heating chamber passes upwardly through said water distribution chamber into the tank with water from the tank being drawn into the water distribution chamber to replace heated water passing upwardly through the said discharge connection. 2. A stock watering device as described in claim 1 wherein check valves are provided in the inlet and discharge connections of the said water distribution chamber.

' 3. A stock watering device comprising a tank, a housing extended through the lower part of the tank, plates extended across the ends of the housing providing a watering trough in the lower part thereof, baffles extended across the housing and spaced from the ends thereof, a heat exchanger positioned in the housing, a vertically disposed connection depending from said heat exchanger and having a heating chamber on the lower end, a heating element in the housing and. positioned to apply heat to said heating chamber on the lower end of said vertically disposed connection, an inlet connection extended from the lower part of the heat exchanger to the interior of the tank, a check valve in said inlet connection preventing flow of fluid from the heat exchanger to the tank, a discharge connection from said heat exchanger to the tank, and a valve in said discharge connection preventing flow of fluid from the tank to the heat exchanger.

4. A stock watering device as described in claim 3 wherein a float control connection i provided from the stock watering tank to the trough in the lower part of the housing.

5. A stock watering device comprising a tank having an open compartment extended through the lower part thereof, a heat exchanger positioned in said open compartment of the tank, a vertically disposed depending tube having a heating chamber on the lower end extended from said heat exchanger, a heating element positioned below the said heating chamber, an inlet connection extending from the lower part of the heat exchanger to the tank, a check valve in said inlet connection preventing flow of fluid from the heat exchanger to the tank, a discharge connection extended from said heat exchanger to the tank and a valve in said discharge connection preventing flow of fluid from the tank to the heat exchanger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 471,827 Rees Mar. 29, 1892 894,312 Brown July 28, 1908 1,220,404 Eaton Mar. 27, 1917 1,459,408 Lockett June 19, 1923 1,528,435 Kielsmeier Mar. 3, 1925 1,602,606 Dierks Oct. 12', 1926 1,649,009 Zaehte Nov. 15, 1927 1,786,049 Zoel-ler Dec. 23, 1930 1,835,352 Stangl Dec. 8, 1931 2,490,824 Meisner Dec. 13, 1949 

